2007 WSOP, Day 47: Part One -- Looking Back at the 2006 WSOP ME Final Table

Two posts today. One looking back, one looking ahead.

Just before last year’s final table, I suggested that “Whatever happens, it’ll surely be relived, replayed, and reviewed endlessly until next year’s WSOP. There’s a kind of permanence about final table play that may also have its effect tomorrow. The fact that the ‘world’ (or some of it) will literally be watching this time certainly won’t lessen the pressure.”

As it happened, the 2006 WSOP Main Event final table did produce a lot of interesting stories and discussion, despite the fact that Jamie Gold held the large chip lead from start to finish.

At the end of last summer, I went through and discussed eight key hands from last year’s final table. I thought it might be interesting to look back at those hands, and so here are links to those posts:

2006 WSOP Final Table Hand No. 5: The Mighty Ducks
Dan Nassif eliminated in 9th when Jamie Gold flops a set of deuces.

2006 WSOP Final Table Hand No. 22: Just in Case
Gold and Allen Cunningham both flop trips, but Gold has the better kicker.

2006 WSOP Final Table Hand No. 60: Riding the Rush?
Michael Binger gets a little reckless with A9 after doubling up.

2006 WSOP Final Table Hand No. 122: You Going All the Way?
Richard Lee decides JJ is a good enough hand to take to battle against Gold.

2006 WSOP Final Table Hand No. 134: Friends Don’t Let Friends Get Trapped
A king flops, and Paul Wasicka finds himself in a tight spot with KT against Gold’s AK.

2006 WSOP Final Table Hand No. 187: Having the Heart to Go Big Time
A scary board enables Wasicka to run a sick bluff against Cunningham.

2006 WSOP Final Table Hand No. 218: Honest Abe
Three-handed, Gold bluffs Binger, briefly showing one of his cards in the process.

2006 WSOP Final Table Hand No. 229: Split Decision
Probably the single most talked about hand of 2006, in which Wasicka lays down that straight flush draw, then Gold knocks out Binger.

Back shortly with some thoughts about the 2007 Main Event final table -- and the stories it might produce.